Bruce paced back-and-forth in front of the dark-skinned Thanagarian sitting in his computer chair, glaring at her through his cowl. Today was not his day…or night…or whatever. It was 3 a.m., and he had a board meeting in 4 hours. Maybe he should cancel. "What should we do with her?" the chatty birdman asked. Bruce shot a glare in his direction. "We aren't going to do anything," Bruce replied, emphasizing the we. "You are going to leave, and J'ohnn is going to wipe your memory."

"What!" Carter exclaimed, taking a step back from both Batman and the Martian. "What if I promise to never show up unannounced?" Bruce said nothing. "C'mon. I won't tell anyone about the Batcave, I swear," Carter begged.

"I'll take care of him when we leave here," J'ohnn said. "But what about her?"

"Are you able to read her mind?" Bruce asked.

"It will take some time, but her mind is not as powerful as Hawkgirl's." Shri rolled her eyes. "I know the vipera name is Shayera," she growled. "No need to use her alias or whatever." Carter started at that. "Listen you little-" he began. But Bruce held up a gloved hand, silencing the angry hawk man. "Can you please show him the exit?" Bruce asked J'ohnn.

"Certainly," J'honn stepped up. "Mr. Carter, if you would."

"C'mon guys!" he exclaimed once again. "I'm part of this, too. I can help."

"You already have," J'ohnn said. "And I thank you for the assist. But for now, please come with me." Carter opened his mouth to protest once more, but the Martian Manhunter cut him off. "Do not make me make you," J'ohnn said. "I will." Carter turned to follow J'ohnn out the cave, all the while mumbling, leaving Batman alone with the small, scowling Thanagarian. He needed to figure out what he was going to do with her. He couldn't leave her here. She would be tracked.


Lobo doubled over in an abandon alleyway, doing his best to stick to whatever shadows were left. He gripped his screaming rims through his thick leather vest. He almost had his ass handed to him. He...had not been expecting that. His commlink went off. He immediately rolled his eyes when he recognized who it was that was trying to contact him. "Yes?" he greeted the Thanagarian.

"Well," Issi growled impatiently. "Do you have her?"

"No. And that Shri bird got caught."

"What do you mean, she was caught?" Lieutentant Issi growled at the bounty hunter.

"A shapeshifter was mimicking her scent. A Martian." Issi swore. "Also," Lobo continued, "there's another hawk here on Earth. And I don't mean the small one you have following me around – the one that was just caught. I mean a full-grown male hawk. Wings and masks."

"I will look into it. Anything else?" Issi demanded.

"Now that I know the Martian's scent, locating Hawkgirl should be easier. Actually, I can just trace the little bird's scent. They probably took her to wherever they are hiding Shayera."

"Then why are you wasting your time calling me? Go get her!"

"Easy, Your Highness," Lobo mocked. "That Martian packs a punch. I took a few hits. I need at least a few hours to recuperate. I'll get you your prize."

"This is your last shot. The next time you contact me, it better be good news." Lobo furrowed his brow. "I don't take too kindly to threats," he said.

"And I do not take too kindly to incompetent bounty hunters wasting my time! So, unless you want to feel the wrath of the entire Thanagar army, capture Shayera, and bring her to me. You have a week!"

"Hey, that was not-" but Issi cancelled the connection, causing Lobo to release a string of curse words in about 10 different languages before accosting an innocent garbage container sitting in an alley. He really, really hated Thanagarians. He couldn't wait for this job to be over. He also realized, he needed to call the lieutenant back. He was gonna need a distraction.